Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-02-25

He said that ne TOOK Dut little stock IN
the idea that seemed to he prevalent il
the minds of some that Representative
and the officers of the state could be
bought with free passes, because he ibid
not believe that such was the case.
But he had been led to believe from re ad-
ing the logical reasoning of such men as
Charles Francis Adams that the railroad
added 90 per cent. to the passenger rates
paid by the travelling public to make up
the loss by reasons OF the free passes
given newspaper men, commercial men
and the officers OF the state, and if such
state of affairs did exist and the people
VINO paid their fare On railroads were
taxed 90 per cent. additional to make
good the amount that would be lost to
railroads under the pass system ne was
in favor of restricting them from issuing
free passes.
Senator Gregg said ne was ore of the
friends Of the bill, bu. ne did not cater to
the sentiment of those who ranted about
the Influence Of the passes given by the
railroads TO the representatives and
officers OF the state. He would be willing
for every legislator to come to Austin on
free pass, and it would not lessen his
confidence in their honesty. He then
offered an amendment to Senator McDOu-
AIDS amendment to strike out the clause
referring 10 free passes.
Senator Burgess then offered an amend
ment to strike out that portion Of SEN
a:or McDouald's amendment giving
one-half OF the fine on conviction to the
informant He said he was opposed
to and would always be opposed
20 any law that offered profit to anyone
who would swear to q violation of the
law This feature, if it should be incor-
porated in the bill, would lead to more
violations of all the principles of pure
laws than it would prove any auxiliary
to the enforcement of statutory pro
visions.
Pending the discussion of this amend
ment, the Senate adjourned.
SIMILAR BILL IN THE HOUSE.
While the Senate was ousy amending
the railroad commission bill the House
was engaged in heated discussion over
Mr.. Belfs (of Cooke substitute to SINH
lar bill introduced in that body during
the morning session. MsSsrS. ShOwalter,
Tate, Richardson, Camp and Robinson
made fOrci2le and logical speeches.
Mr.. Robinson opposed the creation Of
G rGilrIsd commission. He said that if
the general laws OF the state were INSULT
Gent to remedy the wrongs growing GU:
OF the pooling system OF railroads, IL
would be impossible for three men to
work successfully and without confusion.
| When they can only have authority to
regulate the short haul they viii naturally
conflict with the Interstate commerce
commission. whose authority extended tG
the regulation of the long haul system.
He was in favor of the Legislature max
ing strict laws to regulate the railroad,
but not By the plan proposed either by
this bill or its substitute. Ii the law
fixed rates so that the railroads would be
certain to know what was required of
them, they would obey, for they had too
much sense not to obey. While he op-
posed the commission, he favored some
special law on the subject.
APPEAL FOR THE DROUTG SUFFERERS.
Governor Ross received to-day the fol-
lowing letter and communication from
the drouth commissioners dated at Cisco,
Texas, February 81, 1887:
Governor l.. s. Ross, Austin, Tex:
SIR-Herewith find card to the public
over the signatures of the 6routh relief
committee Should you think that its pub
of this section, and that such an appeal
ny the committee is not improper, you
will please give the same to the press for
public information and consideration.
Yours respectfully, II. p. TEAGUE,
W. 2. LANE.
To the Public. The committee appointed
by the Governor to distribute the sppro-
pTiaticn made by the Legislature for the
drouth sufferers, find that in addition to
the necessity for provisions, there Is
urgent need Tor SEED 10 secure crops this
year. Therefore, they most earnestly, in
behalf of the people IN the drouth dis
tr'ct, appeal t. the literally disposed citi
Ems Of the state to raise at once q fund
10 procure seeds for the farmers. The
committee viii, 50 far as possible see
that such contributors ere properly dis
.IibUted.
Signed WALTER p LANE,